😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,210 in Lisbon versus $982 in Newcastle.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,311 in Lisbon versus $1,521 in Newcastle.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,411 in Lisbon versus $2,060 in Newcastle.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 125% more expensive than Newcastle, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 65% above, Newcastle is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.91€13.69
$8.27R 134
92.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.8€55.7
$33.31R 541
94.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.51€9.04
$4.78R 77.8
119.87%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$2.02R 32.84
42.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.93
$1.02R 16.63
119.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.29
$0.87R 14.19
72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.00
$2.30R 37.30
51.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.34
$2.87R 46.66
35.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.19R 19.34
-4.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.51
$1.07R 17.39
63.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.24R 20.22
41.94%
Eggs
$3.22€2.77
$1.73R 28.07
86.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.49€11.61
$6.09R 99.0
121.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91€6.81
$4.52R 73.4
75.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.87€13.65
$6.30R 102
151.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31€1.99
$0.79R 12.81
192.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$0.97R 15.76
75.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.73
$0.86R 14.02
133.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.28R 20.84
92.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$0.96R 15.58
91.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.18R 19.10
69.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.66
$0.73R 11.84
164.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.57R 9.28
38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.61€5.68
$2.76R 44.93
139.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.72€4.92
$3.11R 50.6
83.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.17
$1.29R 21.03
6.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97€2.56
$0.80R 13.02
271.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37€2.04
$1.61R 26.18
47.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.56€39.19
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.69
$1.38R 22.47
210.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82€0.70
$1.32R 21.44
-37.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.30€15.74
$3.16R 51.4
479.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06€1.78
$1.27R 20.64
62.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K€29.5K
$19.0KR 308.1K
80.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.8K
$25.8KR 418.9K
52.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€127
$125R 2,039
17.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.52€17.65
$37.53R 610
-45.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.61€34.08
$37.57R 611
5.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.85€41.16
$31.53R 512
51.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92€16.28
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.90
$7.72R 126
18.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$614€528
$200R 3,243
207.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0K€13.8K
$4,285R 69.6K
274.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€90.0
$51.5R 837
103.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.06€36.18
$32.32R 525
30.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€80.8
$88.7R 1,442
5.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$87.4R 1,420
36.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,628€1,400
$366R 5,954
344.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,255€1,080
$338R 5,487
271.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,030€2,607
$678R 11.0K
347.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,020€1,738
$682R 11.1K
196.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,800€6,709
$973R 15.8K
701.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,273€3,675
$638R 10.4K
569.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,603€1,379
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
11.69
-67.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Newcastle: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,628 in Lisbon and $366 in Newcastle. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Lisbon vs $33.00 in Newcastle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $143 per month, with Newcastle cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Newcastle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and Newcastle?
Lisbon and Newcastle differ by about 125% in total monthly costs ($2,210 vs $982 including rent). Newcastle is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Newcastle?
You'd need roughly $3,315 in Lisbon and $1,472 in Newcastle to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and Newcastle?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,628 in Lisbon versus $366 in Newcastle. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 88% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Newcastle?
All in, you'll spend $2,210 per month in Lisbon versus $982 in Newcastle – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $982 in Newcastle versus $2,210 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Newcastle but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Newcastle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Newcastle?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Newcastle safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Newcastle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Newcastle?
Expats usually find Newcastle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.